ILOILO — Women have emerged as the driving force behind grassroots development in Western Visayas, with 28,434 community volunteers mobilized under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program from 2020 to 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported.
The figure underscores how unpaid female volunteers are sustaining community projects, strengthening service delivery, and boosting resilience across the region, particularly in Iloilo province, which accounts for the largest share with 16,145 volunteers.
Other provinces also posted significant participation, including Antique with 4,964 volunteers, Aklan with 3,420, Capiz with 2,816, and Guimaras with 1,089, forming a broad network of women leading development efforts at the grassroots level.
According to DSWD-6, these women are not merely participants but key decision-makers and implementers of projects, actively engaging in community planning, identifying local priorities, and crafting strategies for effective execution.
They also play a critical role in monitoring projects, ensuring transparency and accountability while helping address challenges and improve outcomes.
“Despite their unwavering dedication, these women do not receive monetary compensation for their contributions,” DSWD Region 6 said, noting that volunteers continue to serve driven by a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to their communities.
Many have stepped into leadership roles, mobilizing residents and strengthening civic participation, which has led to improved delivery of basic services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The agency emphasized that the contribution of these women has significantly enhanced community resilience and fostered inclusive, people-centered development initiatives across Western Visayas.
Their continued involvement, DSWD-6 added, demonstrates the critical role of women’s leadership in building stronger, more responsive communities that can sustain long-term development gains./PN
